Shoe stretcher or adjuster



c. R. BOYD 1,783,600

SHOE STRETCBER OR ADJUSTER I Filed Aug. 13, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 2, 1930.

h" 4 I Ii lqlll a I I. ll lli Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES R. BOYD, ouMARsHALLTowN, IOWA, ASSIGNOR- or Forum PER CE1\TT TO ALFRED BAT'IY, 0. MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA snon s'iinumonnn on. ADJUSTER Application filed August 13,1929. Serial No. 385,586.

This invention relates to a shoe stretcher or adjuster and has for one of its objects to provide a device of this character which shall be adapted to beused for the purpose of adjusting either the length or the width of a shoe and which shall also be'adapted tobe used for the purpose of simultaneously adjusting the length and the width of a shoe. The invention has for a further object to provide a device of the character stated through the medium of which the length or width of a shoe may be adjusted Without altering the contour of the shoe except at the place where the adjustment is to be made.

The invention has for a further object to provide a device of the character stated through the medium of which a shoe may be adjusted especially for corns and bunions, through the medium of which such adjustments may be made at the exact points where desired, and through the medium of which such adjustments may be made without altering the contour of the shoe except where adjustments are desired.

The invention has for a further object to provide a device of the character stated through the medium of which the width of the vamp of a shoe may be adjusted without imparting a corresponding adjustment to -therethrough. The sections 1 and 1 of the the cap of the shoe, and through the medium of which the width of the vamp and cap may be simultaneously adjusted,

The invention hasfor a still further obvject to provide a device of the character stated through the medium'of which the width of the vamp of a shoe may be adjusted at any desired point. i

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the nature of which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is; a sectional view taken on angularly related planes extending longitudinally through the shoe adjuster, the planes on which the section is taken being indicated by the line 11- of Figure 2; Figure 2 is'a longitudinalsectional view "5-5 ofFigure 2;

taken on the plane-indicated by the line 22of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the. plane indicated by theline 3 3 of Figure 1; a

' Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view takenon the plane indicated by the line 4.& of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is atransverse'sectional View taken on the plane indicated by the line Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the planes indicated by the line 6-6 ofFigure of the-corn or bunion caps of the adjuster;

and

'to a plane in advance of the distal phalanges or nearly coincident with the transverse center of the nail of the great toe, and its front end is as wide as the rear end of the toeblock 3. 'The body 1 is divided along a vertical plane extending longitudinally and centrally body 1 are similar, and are connected together at their rear ends by a hinge 4: which is located below the horizontal center of the body. The body sections 1 and 1 have their inner or opposing sides formed to provide grooves 5, whichextend longitudinally of and are locatedbetweenthe ends of the body 1 and a wedge .81 is adapted to .beimoved forwardly I l a i u i n i 1 Figure 7 1s a new 1n side elevation of one 5 and rearwardly in the grooves through the medium of a hollow rod 9, which extends through a channel formed in the opposing sides of the body sections 1 and 1 and extending from the rear ends of the grooves 5 to the rear ends of the sections. The rod 9 is connected to the wedge 8 by a swivel 11 con sisting of a yoke 12 recessed in and secured to the rear end of the wedge 8, and receiving the front end of the rod 9, and a collar 12 carried by said end of the rod and arranged within the yoke.

The rod 9 is externally screw threaded, as at 13, and it is engagedwith a feed nut 14;, which extends across the channel 10 and is maintained inplace'by pins'15. The pins 15 extend laterally from the feed nut l4; and have a loose fit in bores 16 extending transversely through the body sections 1 and 1". The rod 9 is provided at its rear end with a bar or handle 17. When the rod 9 is turned in one direction, the wedge 8 is moved forwardly in the grooves 5, resulting in the body members 1 and 1 being swung laterally outward on their pivot 4;. When the rod 9 is turned in the opposite direction, the wedge 8 is moved rearwardly in the grooves, permitting the body sections 1 and l to be moved laterally inward on their pivot 4:.

The heel block 2 is detachably secured to the rear end of the body 1 by a pin 18, which is fixed to the heel block and removably positioned in a socket 19 formed inthe inner sides of the body sections 1 and 1 The heel block 2 is located below the wedge adjusting rod 9 and extends from a point in close proximity to the under side of the rod to the lower side of the body 1.

The toe block 3 is adjustable forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the body 1 tln'ougli the medium of a rod 20, which extends through the rod 9, through a bore 21 passing longitudinally through the wedge 8 and through a bore 22 formed in the inner sides of the body sections 1 and 1 and extending from the front ends'of the grooves 5 to the front ends of the sections. The rod is connected to the toe block 3 by a swivel 23, which consists of a yoke 24. embedded in the rear side of the toe block and receiving the front end portion of the rod, and a pin 25 carkried by the rod and arranged within the yo e.

The toe block 3 may be removed by withdrawing the pin 25, and to permit the withdrawal of the pin, the toe block is provided with an opening 26, which extends from the under side thereof to the yoke 24.

The rod 9 is externally screw threaded, as at 27, and is engaged with a feed nut 28, which extends across the bore 22. The feed nut 28 is held in place by pins 29 extending laterally therefrom and having a loose fit in bores .30 passinglongitudinally through the body sections'l andl The rod 20 provided at its rear end with a bar or handle 31, which may be removed therefrom to permit of ready access to the handle 17. When the rod 20 is turned in one direction, it moves the toe block 3 forwardly with respect to the body 1. and when it is turned in the opposite direction, it moves the toe block rearwardly with respect to the body.

The body sections 1 and 1 are provided in their outer sides, at their widest portions, with sockets 32 for the reception of the stems 33 of bunion caps 34, which are of concavoconvex formation with their convex surfaces smooth and arranged outermost. The body sections 1 and 1 are each provided in their upper sides, forwardly of its widest portion with an inwardly and forwardly inclined series of sockets 35, which are adapted to receive the stems of corn caps 35. These caps are similar to, but smaller than the bunion caps 34:.

It should be apparent from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that the device may be used for the purpose of adjusting or increasing the length or the width of the shoe or for the purpose of simultaneously adjustin g the length and width of the shoe. \Vhen the device is to be used for the purpose of simultaneously adjusting the length and width of a shoe or for the purpose of merely adjusting the length of the shoe. the heel block 2 is employed, while when the device is to be used merely for the purpose of adjusting the width of a shoe, the heel block is not employed.

The heel block 2 may, due to the manner in which it is connected to the body 1, be readily and quickly applied and removed. To effect 'an adjustment of the length of a shoe, the

rod 20 is turned, through the medium of its handle 31, to move the toe block 3 forwardly with respect to the body 1. As the toe block 3 does not expand during use, the length of the shoe is adjusted without any adjustment" of the width of the cap thereof. During this adjustment of the shoe, the heel block 2 rests in contact with the counter of the shoe. To

effect an adjustment of the width of a shoe,

the rod 9 is turned through the medium of its handle 17 in a direction to, move the'wedge 8 forwardly with respect to the body sections 1*" and 1 This movement of the wedge 8 swings the body sections 1 and 1 laterally outward with respect to each other, resulting in the adjustment of the shoe. As the toe block 3 does not expand during the expansion of the body 1, the adjustment of the width of the shoe is effected without any alteration in the-width of the cap of the shoe. As the body 1 may be moved forwardly with respect to the heel block 2 and rearwardly'with respect to the toe block' 3, the shoe may be adjusted as to w-idt'li' at the desired point To adapt the device for adjusting a shoe Hill lLiU

for a bunion or bunions, one or more of the bunion caps are applied to the body 1, and to adapt the device for adjusting a shoe for one or more corns, one or more corn caps are applied to the body. After the bunion cap or caps or the corn cap or caps have been applied and the device placed within the shoe, the adjustment of the shoe is effected by moving the body sections 1 and 1 laterally outward with respect to each other in the man ner hereinafter stated. The adjustability of the toe block 3 longitudinally with respect to the body 1 permits the corn and bunion adjustments to be made at the required places.

The location of the bunion cap or caps at the Widest part of the body 1 enables the shoe to be adjusted for a bunion or bunions at the desired point or points without altering the contour of the remaining portion of the shoe. The number and arrangement of the corn cap stem receiving socket 35 permits a shoe to be adjusted for a corn or corns at the desired point or points Without altering the contour of the remaining portion of the shoe.

While I have described the principle of the invention together with the structure which I now consider the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the structure shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim 1. A shoe stretcher or adjuster, comprising a body consisting of longitudinal sections pivotally connected at their rear ends, a heel block detachably secured to the body, a toe block, means for moving the body sections laterally outward with respect to each other, and means for moving the toe block forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the body and free of engagement with said first means, said means being selectively operable from the rear end of the body to permit the shoe to be stretched laterally or longitudinally.

2. A shoe stretcher or adjuster, comprising a body consisting of longitudinal sections, the body sections being provided in their inner sides with grooves having forwardly converging side walls, means pivotall connecting the rear ends of the body sections, a wedge slidably mounted in the grooves, a feed nut carried by the body sections rear- Wardly of the grooves, an adjusting rod passing through the feed nut and swivelly connected to the wedge, a feed nut carried by the body sections forwardly of the grooves, a movable toe block, and an adjusting rod passing through said first rod, wedge and said second feed nut and swivelly connected to the toe block.

3. A shoe stretcher or adjuster, comprising an expansible body, means for expanding the body, a non-expansible toe block, and means for moving the toe block forwardly and rearjuster has been inserted in wardly with respect to the body and free of engagement with said first means, said means being selectively operable from the rear end of the body to permit the shoe to be stretched laterally or longitudinally.

4. A shoe stretcher or adjuster, comprising an expansible body and a non-expansible toe block contacting with each other along the line in front of the distal phalanges of the foot, means for expanding the body, and means for moving the toe block forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the body and free of engagement with said first means, said means being selectively operable from the rear end of the body to permit the shoe to be stretched laterally or longitudinally.

5. A shoe stretcher or adjuster, comprising a body consisting of longitudinal sections pivotally connected at their rear ends, a toe block, means for moving the sections laterally outward with respect to each other, and means for moving the toe block forwardly with respect to the body, said means being operable selectively after the stretcher or adjuster has been inserted in a shoe to permit the shoeto be stretched laterally or longitudinally.

6. A shoe stretcher or adjuster, comprising a body consisting of longitudinal sections pivotally connected at their rear ends, a toe block, means for moving the sections laterally outward with'respect to each other, and means for moving the toe block forwardly with respect to the body, said means being operable selectively after the stretcher or ada shoe to permit a shoe to be stretched laterally or longitudinally and said means being operable simultaneously after the insertion of the stretcher or adjuster to permit the shoe to be stretched laterally and longitudinally simultaneously.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CHARLES R. BOYD. 

